Veneer-cutter-speed control



May 20, 1930.

H. C. CLAY ET AL VENEER CUTTER SPEED CONTROL Filed Nov. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l S 5 ll M m m m mm f E NN R M N L C 0 mm 2/ 1 x m m .3 Hm Q\\\ q ..a u 1m J. w Nm q... 9% N RN 00 N o 3 May 20, 1930. H. c. CLAY ET AL 5 ,4

VENEER CUTTER SPEED CONTROL Filed Nov. 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Harry 6'. Clay and Y Charles I. Irwin,

A TTORNEYS Patented May 20, 1930 .Umrso STATES smear oFFIc HARRY c. CLAY AND CHARLES L. IRWIN, or coLirMB s, INDIANA, ssIeNoEs T REEVES PULLEY COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA VENEER-CUTTER-SPEED CONTROL Application filed November 3, 1926. Serial No. 145,929.

Our invention relates to means for automatically controlling, in a veneer cutting machine the speed at which the log from which the veneer is cut is rotated and particularly to means for maintaining the peripheral speed of the log constant as the cut is made deeper into the log.

It is one of the objects of our invention to provide a simpleautomatic mechanism operated by the feeding of the cutting knife to increase peripheral speed of the log as the peripheral surface decreases due to the cutting of the veneer therefrom.

For disclosing our invention we have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying vour invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

In the structure illustrated the veneercutting machine is of the usual commercial type including a bed or frame 1 in which is mounted achuck Inechanism-2 adapted to receive and rotate the log 3. This chuck mechanism is provided with one or more-large driven gears 4L driven from a counter-shaft 5 provided with pinions 6 adapted to mesh with the gears 4. I

The cutter knives 7 are mounted on a knife carriage 8 having side members 9 which operate in suitable guideways 10 in the bed or frame. This carriage is fed forward by a the carriage is fed forward is constant in order to maintain constant the thickness of the veneer cut from the log.

In this type of machine it is desirable that the peripheral speed of the log should remain the same and as the log isreduced in diameter by the cutting of the veneer this peripheral speed must-be maintained constant by varying the speed at which the log is rotated. To this end wev interpose between the operating power and the log rotating mechanism a speed varying transmission which is preferably of the Reeves type which there are two pairs of cone pulleys 14 and 15 connected by a V belt 16. The pulleys of each pair are splined on rotatable shafts 17 and 18 and are moved toward and away from each other on the shafts by means of suitable levers 19 and 20 fulcrumed respectively at 21 and 22. The pulleys are so connected to the levers 19 and 20 that as the leversare manipulated the pulleys of one pair will be moved toward one another while at the same time,

the'pulleys of'the opposite pair will be moved away'. from one another. In the present construction the ends of the levers 19 and 20 are connected by links 23 to a rocking arm 24.

mounted on a shaft 25 so that as the shaft is rotated in one direction or the other the free ends of the levers. will be moved toward or away from one another to thereby vary the distance between thepulleys of each pair. In the present instance the shaft 5 of the veneerv cutting machine is driven bya belt andpulley connection 26 from the shaft 17 ofthe variablespejedtransmission and power is -ape plied totheshaft 18 of this transmission' The levers 1 9 and 20 are operated to cause the. variable speed transmission to drive the cutting machine at different speeds, from the knife-feeding carriage. vFor. accomplishing this result we provide a V shaped frame the two legs 27 of which are bolted or otherwise secured at their lower ends to the frame 1 of.

the veneer machine.- At the apex ofthis frame there is provided a stubshaft2 8 on:;

which is mounted a rocking arm 29. The lower end of this arm is connected by a link 30with an armBl bolted to the side member 9.

of the knifercarriage. The upper end of this arm is connected by a link rod 32 with one arm 33 ofna bell crank'lever, the opposite arm 3 1 of which is connected'by a link rod 35 with an arm 36 secured on the shaft 25.. In the present construction thetransmission lever is therefore supported from the ceiling by a suitable hanger bracket 37.

The operation of the apparatus is obvious. As the carriage 8 feeds inwardly during the cutting of the veneer the lower end of thearm 29 will move with the carriage thereby rocking the upper end of the arm in an opposite direction, which motion is transmitted through the link rods 32 and 35 and the bell crank lever to the arm 36, which in turn rotates the shaft 25- to rotate the arm 24 moving the pair of cone discs 15 of the speed transmission towardone another and the pair of cone discsl4 away from one another thereby gradually increasing the speed at which the shaft 5, and consequently the log 3, is rotated, this increase being in proportion to the decrease in diameter of the log to thereby maintain the peripheral speed of the log constant. v 7 We claim as our invention 1. The combinationwith a veneer cutting machine having means for rotating the log and means for feeding the cutting knives toward said log, of a speed varying mechanism drivingly connected with the log rotating means andcomprising two pairs of friction cones, a connecting belt, two controlling levers acting upon said pairs of cones to variably position the same relatively to one another, means fors'imultaneously shiftingcontrolling levers, and means operated by the movement of the knives for operating said lever shifting means. Y l

2. In an apparatus of the'characte'r described,the combination with aveneer cutting machine having means for rotating the log and means for feeding the cutting knives toward the log, of aspeed varying mechanism drivingly connected with the log rotating meansand comprising two pairs of friction cones, 'aconnecting belt, two controlling levers 1 7 knife feeding means including a supporting frame mounted on the cutting machine frame,

a lever rockably mounted on said frame and having one end connected to the knife carriage and the other end connected to the lever shifting means.

In witness whereof we, HARRY C. CLAY and CHARLES L. IRWIN, have hereunto set our j hands, at Columbus, Indiana, this 25th day of October, A. D. one thousand nine hundred;

acting upon said pairs of cones to variably V position the'same'relativelyto one another and means for shifting'said levers, andmeans connected with the "knife feeding means for operating said lever shifting means including a locking arm having one end connected to theknife feeding means and the other end connected to the lever shifting means.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with'a veneer cutting machine having means for rotating the log and means for feeding the cutting knives 1 7 toward the log, of a speed varying mechanism drivingly connected with the log rotating means comprising two pairs of friction cones;

a connecting belt,'two controlling levers acting upon said pairs of cones to variablyiposition the'same relatively'to one another, and means for shifting saidlevers,an d-a connection between said lever shifting means and 

